Web cleaning apparatus



Feb- 26, 1963 x.. l.. noRAN ETAL WEB CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1960 INVENTORS I EO L.. DORAN MAURlCEH.Ol-SON Mn, Fini/m, @rima la@ ATTO RN EYS stares Unite This invention relates to the cleaning of a running web of material, such as paper, fabric, plastic or other materials run or processed from a roll or equivalent means, and more particularly is directed to a device which improves the surface condition of a web by removing dirt, lint or other foreign matter so that subsequent printing or other processing of the web is greatly improved.

t One of the problems which faces the printing and cleaning industries is the effective and eiiicient cleaning of webs to be printed prior to printing. Unless this is done, subsequent printing operations will result in blurred, indistinctand otherwise objectionable printing. It has been found that in practice effective web cleaning can be accomplished by use of an air blast in combination with a suction pressure. One prior device which used this combination comprised a large diameter air blast pipe in combination with a smaller diameter air suction pipe, wherein the pipes were located within a large bulky housing. This device, however, was expensive and diicult to manufacture, clumsy to handle and not susceptible to a reduction in size for use in environments wherein only a minimum area was available. In another prior art web cleaner, an air blast chamber and a suction chamber were separated by a dividing wall with a round rod having transverse slots therein on the free end of the dividing Wall. This device was quite satisfactory as a web cleaner, but was expensive to manufacture, and did not provide an effective adjustment of the velocity of the air blast.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is not necessary or desirable for a single air cleaning velocity to be used in the cleaning of different types of webs. Where the web is heavy in weight and contaminated with relatively large or heavy dirt and lint particles, a higher air cleaning velocity is required to clean the Web than is required Where the web is light in Weight and contaminated with relatively small or light dirt and lint particles. Prior known devices did not provide for simple and expeditious adjustment of the air cleaning velocity according to the dictates of the cleaning situation.

Another problem which has faced the web cleaning industry has been containment of the dirt and lint particles within the confines of the cleaning device. It is obviously undesirable to allow the dirt and lint particles to escape into the surrounding atmosphere where they can reengage the web already cleaned and cause undesirable working conditions. One factor leading to this condition has been the failure to correlate the air and suction pressures. In addition, where the web cleaning device does not allow for continuous smooth ow of the cleaning air, turbulence will result in contamination of the atmosphere surrounding the Web cleaning device and the lprinting device.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a web cleaning device which is simple in construction, loW in cost and effective as a web cleaner.

Y Another object of the invention is to provide a web cleaning device having a plurality of chambers which are separated by an adjustable dividing wall.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a web cleaning device wherein means are provided intermediate the air and suction chambers for adjusting the air cleaning velocity and for maintaining the air and suction chamber openings approximately equal.

larent Patented Feb. 26, 1953 ice Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part Will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the objects and advantages being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Briefly described, the instant invention provides means for dividing an air and suction chamber, for adjusting the openings of the chambers and for providing a smooth ilow of air for cleaning a web.

As embodied herein, this means comprises a relatively thin, adjustably mounted dividing wall intermediate the air and suction chambers having a curved portion on its free end which is substantially U-shaped for maintaining the air chamber opening, the suction chamber opening and the distance between the free end of the dividing wall and the web being cleaned substantially equal.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvementsshown and described.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FiGURE l is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, showing the web cleaning head embodying the present invention and arranged transversely against a web.

FlGURE 2 is a plan view of the web cleaning head as seen along line 2-2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the air cleaning head shown in relation to the web.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the air cleaning head with the side wall of the air chamber removed.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of the invention.

In accordance with this invention, means are provided for maintaining a supply of web material, which may be newsprint material, such as paper fabric or other material, for moving the web material past a cleaner head and for feeding the web material into a printing device or processing apparatus.

As embodied herein, as shown in FIGURE l, this means comprises a supply roll 2 for maintaining a supply of web material 1 to be cleaned, the web material is fed or pulled upwardly past the air cleaner head 4 by the feeding rollers 6 and is moved over the guiding roller 3 and fed or pushed into the printing device or processing apparatus iti.

This invention has, in accordance with its principles, means for mounting the air cleaner head on or adjacent to the printing device or processing apparatus.

For purposes of illustration, FIGURE l, the mounting means, comprises a tubular member 12 which may be a part of the printing device or processing apparatus 1) or may be mounted thereon. Clamping bolts 14, which may have a U-shaped configuration, are provided which engage the tubular member 12 and which have attached thereto plate member 16. The plate member 16 has depending therefrom a block member 18 for engaging the end of a threaded bolt 20. Ihe lock nuts 22 are provided for engaging the threaded bolt 20 .and the block member 18.

The web cleaning head 4 has integrally attached thereto hanger bracket 24. The hanger bracket 24 has pivoted thereto an adapter block 26 which is suitably engaged with the threaded rod orn bolt element 20. This construction, as will` be obvious to those -skilled in the art, permits the air cleaner head'4 to be angularly adjustable inrelation to theI web 1 by suitable manipulation of the threaded rod-and lock nut assembly 20, 22.

Means are provided, in accordance with this invention,v

for furnishing a supply of air pressure to the web cleaning head. As embodied herein, this means comprises a blower 28, or other suitable means, schematically shown in FIGURE l. An air conduit 30 is provided which is in communication with the blower 28 at one end, and in communication with the web cleaning head on the other end. Means for adjusting the air velocity in the air conduit` comprising .a valve 32 is provided in the air conduit intermediate the blower 2S and web cleaning head 4;

Means are also provided for maintaining a suction pressure in the air cleaning` head. A-s embodied, this means comprisesV a suction conduit 34v which at one end is in communication with the blower 28 .and which at the other end is in communication with the web cleaning head 4. Means for adjusting the suction pressure, constituting'in this present preferred embodiment a suction valve 36, is located in the suction conduit intermediate the blower 28 and the web cleaning device 4.

This invention is primarily directed towards a device for cleaning web material, wherein means" are provided for adjusting the cleaning air velocityy for insuring that the cleaning air follows a smooth path and for reducing contamination of the atmosphere adjacent the printing device or processing apparatus.

The cleaning-head 4, as embodiedherein, extends trans-l versely of'thevweb material being cleaned and comprises a common rear Wall 38 which is divided into a suction chamber rear wall 40 and an air chamber rear wall 42 and is attached to the hanger bracket 24 in any suitable manner. Extending substantially' normal from one end of the-rear Wall is an' air chamber side wall 44 having a curved free end 46. Extending substantially normal from the other end' of the rear wall is a suction chamber side wall 48 having'a curved free end 50. Located intermediate the air chamber side wall 44y and the suction chamber side Wall 48 and extending substantially normal from the rear wall 38' is a dividingwall means 52. The dividing wall means serves as a common dividing wall and in combination with the rear wall 38, air chamber side Wall 44 and suction chamber side wall 48 forms an air chamber 54 and a suction chamber 56.

In accordance with this invention,vmeans` are provided for adjustably'mounting the divider wall for varying the air cleaning velocity according to the dictates of the cleaning operation. The provision of adjustable means in the combination described herein leads to novel, beneiicial and synergistic results'. By providing adjustable means for the divider,` it is possible to vary the air cleaning velocity simply and expeditiously, thus taking into account variations in the air cleaning velocity needed to clean a web for varying conditions of the web or dirt and lint particles.

The adjustable means, as embodied herein, comprises an adapter or bracket means 58l which engages the suction and air chamber rear walls 40, 42 .and the dividing wall 52. As clearly shown in FIGURE 3, the dividing wall bracket 58 has a leg portion 60 which is xedly attached by suitable means to the suction chamber rear wall 40. The bracket 58 is .attached to the rear wall by any suitable means and, as shown in the drawings, is tack-welded at 62 to the suction chamber rear wall 4t). Obviously,` other and equivalent engaging means could be used, such as appropriate bolt and nut means. The divider Wall bracket 58 is removably attached to the air chamber rear wall 42 by provision of cooperating screws 64 and apertures 66, as shown in FIGURE 3. Extending substantially normalA from one end of the rear wall engaging leg 60. of the the bracket 58 isv a dividing wall engaging leg means 68;

T he dividing wall is provided with a1 series of elongated slots or apertures 70 which are located along the length of the dividing Wall. Screw element 72 is provided which extends through the elongatedl slot in the divider wall and into the apertures 74 in the brackets dividing wall leg means 68 for joining the dividing wall and bracket to one another. As is apparent by inspection, the dividing wall may, by provision of these means, be easily and expeditiously adjusted relative to the bracket.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that simply by removing the. air chamber walls 42, 44, the dividing wall 52 may be adjusted accordingto the dictates of the' cleaning operation. Prior devices usually relied upon adjus-tment of air valve 32 andsuction valve 36 for this function and this required' use of valves having suitably fine adjustment features. In addition, these valves are located at a point remote romthe web, owing to limited space near the web where quick adjustment was diicult;

The present invention also includes anovel'relationship between the free end of the divider wall and the free ends of the air chamber and suction chamber sidewalls, whereby new, beneficial' and unexpected results are achieved.

The relationship, as embodied herein, comprises a divider wall 52 havingra -at portion 76 in adjustably secured relationship with the dividerwall bracket means 58 and a converging portion 78' which converges towards the side` wall of the air chamber. The converging portion has a radius of curvature where it approaches the air chamber side Wall which is approximately the same as the radius of curvature of the free end 46' of the side wall ofthe air chamber side wall 44. The divider wall also includes a slightly inclined portion 8G which at itsV free end 82 has a curvature which is approximately equal to thev radius of curvature of the free end 5d of the suction chamber side wall 48.

These elements are associated and'arrang'e'dwhereby the `opening A between the divider wall and the air chamber side Wall, the opening B between the divider Wall-and the suction chamber -side Wall and the dist-ance C between the inclined portion of the divider wall and the web being cleaned are approximately equal. This combination of' relationships provides a controlled velocity, smooth'flowing, adjustable yair cleaning head for cleaning the web.

AsV will -be obvious to those skilled in the art, the supply of air from the blower 28 as it approaches the web will increase in velocity as it nearsthe web. The turbulence in the air chamber 54 will be kept to a minimum, however, owing'to the smooth and approximately equal radius ofl curvatures for the divider wall 78 and free end 46 of the air chamber side wall. The distance Cvbetween -the web and the inclined divider wall is approximatelyl equal to the distance A between the free end 46 of the air chamber side wall and the dividing wall 78, Whereby'the velocity built up in thevair chamber is -substantially maintained as the air passes over the web. The inclined portionl 80 of the divider wall insures that the air reilected from the web will be directedl into the suction chamber. When entering the suction chamber 56, turbulence is reduced -to a minimum since the free end 82 of the inclined portion 80 and the free end Si) of the suction chamber side wall 48 have approximately the same contours.

In this manner and by this combination of elements, a constant air cleaning velocity is provided which remains substantially constant during its travel from the air chamber to the suction chamber. Since the opening A of the air chamber, suction chamber opening B and the distance C between the dividing wall and'web are also substantially the same, the suction chamber can accommodate the yair acreage supplied from the air chamber. This substantially reduces loss of air cleaning volume to the atmosphere which would contaminate the atmosphere. The provision of means for adjusting the divider wall allows for easy -adjustment of the air velocity and permits the above described opcration for a variety of air cleaning velocities.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited t-o the speciiic mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom, within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What We claim is:

l.. A device for cleaning a web arranged Itransversely of the web comprising: a first chamber having -a rear wall and a side wall, a second chamber having a rear wall and a side Wall, a bracket attached to said rear wall of said first chamber, a dividing wall adjustably attached to said bracket having a first contour which is approximately equal to the contour of the free end of the side wall for the first chamber, said dividing wall having an inclined portion eX- tending over `the web to be cleaned including a free end portion having a curvature substantially equal to the curvature of the side w-all of said second chamber and means for supplying and removing air for the cleaning device.

2. A device for cleaning a web a-rranged transversely of the web comprising means for supplying and removing cleaning air, a single air chamber means for receiving air from said supply means and for directing cleaning air towards lthe web, a single suction chamber means for directing the cleaning air away from the web, said air chamber and said suction chamber means each having an opening adjacent the web to be cleaned; and adjustable dividing wall means intermediate said air chamber and said suction chamber means for maintaining each of said openings ap'- proximately equal.

3. A device for cleaning a web varranged transversely or the web comprising means for supplying and removing cleaning air, a single air chamber means for receiving air from said supply means and for directing cleaning air toward-s the web, a single suction chamber means for directing the cleaning air away from the web, said air chamber means and said suction chamber means each having an opening adjacent the web to be cleaned; and an adjustable thin sheet having a substantially U-shaped contour on its free end intermediate said air chamber means and said suction chamber means for maintaining each of said openings approximately equa-l to the distance between the web cleaning device and the web.

4. A device for cleaning a web arranged transversely of the web comprising means for supplying and removing cleaning air, an air chamber means for receiving air from said air supply means and for directing cleaning air towards the web, suction cham-ber means for directing the cleaning air away from the web, a dividing means intermediate said air chamber and said suction chamber, said dividing means having a contour which cooperates with the contour of said air chamber for increasing the velocity of the cleaning air and for reducing the turbulence of the cleaning air within said air chamber, said dividing wall having another contour which cooperates with the web for maintaining the cleaning air velocity passing over the web substantially equal to the air velocity coming from the air chamber, said dividing means including another contour which cooperates with the suction chamber contour for maintaining the cleaning air velocity entering said suction chamber substantially equal to the cleaning air velocity passing over the web, said dividing means being adjustable to change the velocity of the cleaning air.

5. A device for cleaning a web arranged transversely of the web comprising: a iirst chamber having a rear Wall and a side wall, a second chamber having a rear wall and a side wall, a dividing wall having a first contour which is approximately equal to the contour of the free end of the side wall for the iirst chamber, said dividing wall having an inclined portion extending over t-he web to be cleaned including a free end portion having a curvature substantially equal to the curvature o the side wall of said second chamber, and bracket means for adjustably attaching said dividing wall intermediate said first and said second chambers.

6. ln a web cleaning device, an air chamber and a suction chamber, dividing means intermediate said air chamber and said suction chamber for adjusting the velocity of the air coming from said air chamber, passing over the web and entering said suction chamber and for maintaining the velocity of the air substantially constant when coming from said air chamber, passing over the web and entering said suction chamber, and means for adjusting the position of said dividing means for changing the air velocity but maintaining the velocity constant as it comes from the air chamber, passes over the web and enters the suction chamber.

7. A device for cleaning a web located adjacent the web comprising an air chamber, means for supplying air to said air chamber and to the web, a suction chamber adjacent to said air chamber means for removing air from the web, a dividing wall intermediate said air and suction chambers, said dividing wall forming an opening of equal size in each of said air and suction chambers, said dividing wall having a portion which is located lfrom the web a distance equal to the size of said openings, and means for adjusting the position of said dividing wall and for maintaining the size of each of said openings equal to the distance of said portion of said dividing wall from said web.

8. A device for cleaning a web arranged transversely of the web comprising means for supplying and removing air, air chamber means for receiving air from said air supply means, said air chamber means including a curved free end, suction chamber means located adjacent said air chamber means, said suction chamber means including a curved free end, a dividing wall means including a portion substantially parallel to the web intermediate said air chamber means and said suction chamber means and cooperating therewith to form openings equal in size to the distance between said portion and the web for directing cleaning air from said air chamber means to the web, guiding the cleaning air substantially parallel to the web and for directing the cleaning air substantially parallel to the web and into said suction chamber without substantial loss of cleaning air to atmosphere surrounding the cleaning device, means changing the distance between said portion and the web whereby said distance will still be equal to the size of each of said openings.

9. A device for cleaning a web arranged transversely of the web comprising: a first chamber having a rear wall and a side wall, a second chamber having a rear wall and a side wall, a bracket iixedly attached to said rear wall of said second chamber, means removably attaching said rear and side walls of said iirst chamber to said bracket, a dividing wall, and means for adjustably attaching said dividing wall to said bracket.

Retercnees Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,082,411 Merrill lune 1, 1937 2,141,403 Oiien Dec. 27, 1938 2,225,505 Offen Dec. 17, 1940 2,956,300 Bruno Oct. 18, 1960 2,956,301 Bruno Oct. 18, 1960 

6. IN A WEB CLEANING DEVICE, AN AIR CHAMBER AND A SUCTION CHAMBER, DIVIDING MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID AIR CHAMBER AND SAID SUCTION CHAMBER FOR ADJUSTING THE VELOCITY OF THE AIR COMING FROM SAID AIR CHAMBER, PASSING OVER THE WEB AND ENTERING SAID SUCTION CHAMBER AND FOR MAINTAINING THE VELOCITY OF THE AIR SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT WHEN COMING FROM SAID AIR CHAMBER, PASSING OVER THE WEB AND ENTERING SAID SUCTION CHAMBER, AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID DIVIDING MEANS FOR CHANGING THE AIR VELOCITY BUT MAINTAINING THE VELOCITY 